The Sound of Drums - A British Hearts of Iron II AAR

Can we has update time now?

Wednesday, always wednesday

Wednesday has come and gone.

Theres plenty of Wednesdays to spare

The Sound of Drums - A British Hearts of Iron II AAR
Part Forty-Nine​

21st June - 1st September, 1940
Diplomatic endeavours of the British Empire

The battlefields of Europe provided the most dramatic and obvious conflicts of the past two months, but there was an altogether rather different engagement being conducted behind the scenes. Ever since Prime Minister Sharuminar had declared Britain would ‘go it alone,’ he discovered that he couldn’t. The diplomatic encounters since the fall of France proved that, not only was Britain dependant on others to aid them in the war effort, but some depended on Britain as the one bastion of hope in the free world.

Not that the French would agree. Within a week of the creation of ‘Vichy’ France and the new French colonies, London was paid a visit by General Charles de Gualle. He had evacuated France with three divisions before the armistice, managing to make his way to still-loyal French Cameroon and declaring a “Free French Army.” Thousands more French soldiers made their way to him, and by September would form a grand force of seven ‘Free French’ Divisions.


Charles de Gualle

Not that they could do much. Vichy France was still neutral, and without British approval the Allies would not go to war with them. If De Gualle had hoped his visit would convince the Prime Minister to launch a campaign against Vichy, he was dreadfully frustrated. Still reeling after the evacuation of France and only just beginning the fight against Italy, Kan’ Sharuminar refused to open another theatre of operations.

De Gaulle was hardly happy. The first period of talks between the two Allied leaders led to some heated arguments, with accusations of “treachery” and “abandonment” being sent the British Prime Ministers way. The second talks didn’t go much better, with De Gualle suggesting that Free France would ‘go it alone,’ leave the allies and fight its own campaign to whatever end. A wearied Kan’ Sharuminar simply gave him leave to do whatever he thought would best help France, but not to expect British aid.

The third set of talks on the 29th June represented a sudden change of heart from both leaders. De Gualle decided that his campaign for Free France would be waged through political, not military methods, and for the time being he would concentrate on returning French colonies - now occupied by Vichy France - to his control. The British Prime Minister responded with a promise that he would review the situation of Vichy France following a definite victory against Italy. Furthermore, he would approve the French request that aircraft and ships be produced in Britain for use by Free French forces.

The meetings with De Gualle left Kan’ Sharuminar quite exhausted, and quite unwilling to go through another such meeting. With this in mind, he appointed Peck of Arabia to the post of Foreign Minister, assuring him he had free reign in maintaining diplomatic relations with other countries. To that end, his first duty was to travel to the Soviet Union, to meet with Joseph Stalin in the hopes of renewing more cordial relations.


Peck travels to Moscow

Having been ‘gifted’ the Prime Minister’s former transport aircraft, an Armstrong Whitworth Ensign named Excalibar i, Peck began a treacherous journey to Russia. Stopping to refuel at Narvik before heading to land at Archangel, he was constantly under threat of attack by German fighters. He had left Britain early on the 1st August, just as the German invasion of southern Norway was in full swing. Arriving in Russia the next day, he was given a reception as cold as the local climate, with little reception for his arrival and a single car to take him to Moscow. Travelling in silence for the majority of the trip, Peck could be forgiven for desiring a return to the tension-filled air journey he had just completed.

Moscow itself was not much better. Stalin had apparently declared himself indisposed, leaving Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov to meet with Peck. After a small welcoming ceremony, Molotov launched an attack against the prowess of the Allies following their poor showing in France. He condemned them for the cancellation of trade between the Allies and the Soviet Union, and for protesting the Soviet annexation of the Baltic States, Bessarabia and the recent war against Finland. He finished with the claim that it was Britain’s military expansion in the 1930’s that had provoked Hitler into action, and that the Allies had no-one but themselves to blame for their current predicament.

It was not the opening reception that Peck had desired.

The next few days were less stressful, and as time past it became clear that Molotov’s rant was either a long-desired venting of the Allied war effort, or simply a ploy to put the new British Foreign Minister on edge. Indeed, whenever Molotov returned to the subject of the French defeat, Peck of Arabia got the feeling that Stalin had been caught as off guard as the Allies had been, and had realised he was in an unenviable position, what with the bulk of German forces now available to threaten Russia. At one point Molotov asked about the possibility of an Allied landing in France, though he did so under the suggestion it would “restore the prestige of the British military to what it once was.”

Relations slowly became more amicable as discussions continued, and certainly Molotov’s attitude improved once Peck promised that Soviet-British trade could resume in the near future. Despite the lavish interiors of the Kremlin that Peck was allowed to see in his discussions, he had the definite impression that the Soviet economy was on the verge of collapse - Molotov constantly suggesting trade deals of Soviet resources for Allied money. Ultimately, all Peck could do was promise that he would do what he could, but he was sure the Cabinet would have no problem with such a deal. He departed Russia on the 7th August, once again making the perilous journey across Scandinavia and the North Sea.


The candidates for Presidency, 1940

Prime Minister Sharuminar had not distanced himself completely from diplomatic relations, making a brief visit to the United States on the 24th August. It was just a two-day visit, what with Roosevelt in the middle of an election campaign and the war in North Africa coming to an end, both leaders had little time for each other.

Being the two commander of the free world, that had to change, and while the brief meeting in Washington was meant as an outward show of British-American relations, for the two leaders it was to get a better idea of each other. Roosevelt was clearly leaning towards giving aid to the Allies, and hinted at a future oil embargo against Japan, but he could hardly side with a Britain still Imperialist in nature - an important matter now that Britain was undisputed masters of north, east and southern Africa.

He was answered with the revelation that Britain had no intention of keeping any territories it captured during the war, except for short-term strategic operations. If Roosevelt wanted proof then he should look no further than Abyssinia, a free nation cruelly taken by the Italians, now liberated by the British Empire. Looking quite pleased with himself, Kan’ Sharuminar announced that the Abyssinian government had arrived home just three days previously, and would declare full freedom on the 30th August - one year to the day that war broke out with Germany.


The Abyssinian Campaign

Even before the war against Italy broke out, preparations for the liberation of Abyssinia had been in place for many months now. The shocking news that Italy had left its most recent possession in Africa undefended was taken with some scepticism, and as such all nine militia divisions already in east Africa were utilised for the liberation. When the invasion commenced, it was discovered that intelligence had been completely correct, and the only resistance that the British militia fought was the terrain. It took two and a half months to retake all Abyssinian provinces, though such a bloodless campaign was welcoming after the destruction in France, Libya and Norway.

Free once again, Abyssinia had already declared its intentions to join the Allies and the greater war effort. Roosevelt could be assured that Libya would receive the same treatment, but in this case only after the war had ended. It was a vital location for the Mediterranean Campaign and any future campaign against the Italian mainland. All in all Roosevelt was pleased, though he did note that questions regarding the self-determination of Britain’s existing colonies went unanswered.


Abyssinia liberated!

Prime Minister Kan’ Sharuminar returned to Britain on the 27th August, quite convinced that Roosevelt was his ideal choice of President for the next four years. While the American leader hadn’t given any definitive statements of aid or direct participation in the war effort, the Prime Minister assured himself this was only due to necessity. Roosevelt could hardly announce such intervention list measures so soon to an election, to a populace who firmly believed in America’s isolationist policies.

For now, Britain remained alone. But it remained alone with good company…

Update was paused due my determination to get a drawing done that would have featured a human Subi. It just didn't work out though

Good - I was afraid we'd have to eat the minstrels

Given the lack of military news on other fronts, is a refit/reorganization is in progress, or is the update not yet complete?

Most excellent news. The lbieration of Abyssinia will do much for our PR.

I hope we will not liberate any other countries soon?

Serutan said:

Good - I was afraid we'd have to eat the minstrels

Given the lack of military news on other fronts, is a refit/reorganization is in progress, or is the update not yet complete?

Click to expand...

Well this update takes place over the entirety of the events of Chapter Five, so the military events have already happened. The next part hasn't been played yet, and will likely involve the Mediterranean naval campaign/Norwegian campaign/air campaign. I don't actually know yet

Don't forget, you have to doll out a new Update in 10 post Kan!! The big 2000.

The Liberation of Ethiopia is a brilliant event to show the world we are ready to fight for freedom! It seems that talks with Molotov went well, albeit the string of vendettas he had ready. How ironic that a few months back, there was some parliament controversy in weaning Fascist Thailand to our side and yet nobody is against calling on commie Ivan for help.

It'll be another awards ceremony and behind-the-scenes posting. That said, it's going to be Update 50, a brand new chapter and exactly one year since the war began for the main story as well. It almost looks planned!

Capital news about Abyssinia! Perhaps the Italians have some sense not leaving men there to be needlessly lost cut off from resupply?

On the diplomatic front, Russian bluster as usual hiding there fears, is there anything we need from Russia trade-wise and is there anything our already strained war economy can do without?

The Americans are undoubtedly reassured by our freeing of Abyssinia and promises to do so with Libya (in good time), we must make it clear to them though that British prewar Colonies, Dominions & Mandates are the business of His Majesty's Government and not those of the United States. In as polite a manner as possible of course.

Capitol job PM!

Damned Russian politics, I'll leave this to the gents behind their desks to sort this.

Meanwhile I'll continue my vacation on the shores of Tripoli.

Cheers, heres to our proud men who gave up their free time to perfect their polo playing

May they last another 2000 Posts

One little nitpick- in 1940 the Republican candidate for the US presidency was Willikie, not Landon

wut abnout vodka

Captain2 said:

Cheers, heres to our proud men who gave up their free time to perfect their polo playing

May they last another 2000 Posts

Click to expand...

Indeed, I think we all expect to see some trophies soon.

Since this is #1999, you're up, Kan!

Folk rather liked this last time around, so I’d like to try it again. Since I’ve gone into the technicalities of how I write the AAR in the last one, I may as well go into the development.

For starters, the Council of Doom was originally meant to be similar to ‘Written by the Victors’ - advisory only, no character having an impact like that seen in ‘Heart of Empire.’ That slowly began to change through posters like Riptide_Monzarc, whose continuous criticising of my actions actually began to affect the game, as Britain became far more militarised than it should before the war began. I always appreciate such determination in a poster, and in return I granted him the Imperial Defence Council when he asked for it.

I quickly decided that the Imperial Defence Council, though originally only meant to be a Ministry along the same lines as Subi’s Ministry of Silly Walks, could be evolved to involve more posters in the story. I love writing “democracy-style” AAR’s, and I want as many people as possible joining up to be a part of it. The thing is, there are a lot of posters who like to post and offer advice in my AAR’s, without taking up an actual post and being part of the story. The IDC offered up a nice alternative - posters who wrote their opinions a few times in the thread would automatically join. At the very worst I could write them into the story, and at best they would be encouraged to take an ‘official’ position.

The IDC then evolved into UNIT as the war began. This wasn’t planned - I just realised that I hadn’t been integrating Doctor Who-lore into the story as much as I should have (“The Sound of Drums” is hardly original, but I think I‘ll leave the D.W. stuff until the next commentary). I was delighted to see Ironman worry about the naming of UNIT (Unified Intelligence Taskforce) as it might mean taking powers away from his Ministry of Intelligence. Seeing players take their roles seriously is the most satisfying thing in one of these AAR‘s.

It’s because of this that the entire AAR started to evolve as I had to take into consideration who all my players were, as well as how all the organisations worked. As such, I had to continuously update my Sound of Drums folder, previous containing just the ‘Updates,’ and ‘Pictures’ subfolders to meet the new information. I haven’t had much time to work on them like I did with ‘Heart of the Republic’ - the timeline only goes up to 1937 at the moment. It gets quite overwhelming to write detailed entries for it when looking back from 1940, at least in ‘Republic’ I was updating it from the start!


It’s a bit of a mess.

The AAR is, quite obviously, still in it’s opening stages. I did not expect it to take this long - either the in-game update length, or real-life time between updates. The former was done on purpose - lots of AAR’s skip entire months (including my own) and I wanted to avoid that this time. I didn't really expect summer 1940 to drag on so much though, but it's been fun to write up nonetheless. Actual updates have, as always, been delayed by real-life - I like to have the whole day ahead of me to write an update, rather than just the few hours after works. These are usually only once every week or so, so that really eats into update-writing time.

PrinceScamp’s continuous invitations to play Left 4 Dead don’t help, mind…